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ANSS Regions, Fuzzy Boundaries, and State Jurisdictions
by
Walter J. Arabasz
University of Utah
June 20, 2000
The management plan for an Advanced National Seismic System calls for the partition of the Nation into a small number of regions, each responsible for organizing itself. A conceptual framework is outlined here for considering the boundaries of ANSS regions. The framework was presented at the ANSS Pacific Northwest organizational workshop in Seattle on June 15, 2000, and also at the ANSS Intermountain West organizational workshop in Salt Lake City on June 19, 2000. The concepts were favorably received at both workshops.
Acknowledgment: The ideas outlined here emerged from conversations with John G. Anderson of the University of Nevada, Reno.
The elements for consideration include the following:
- An overview of the basic purpose of ANSS regions (administrative, strategic, functional, political).
- The need to flexibly accommodate "fuzzy boundaries" between ANSS regions.
- A rationale for avoiding boundaries of regions that don't follow state borders, emphasizing why state jurisdictions may be important ANSS building blocks.
- Scenarios for ANSS regions in the western U.S. that allow certain states to have "dual citizenship" in two ANSS regions, including primary membership in one region and affiliate membership in an adjacent region with which it also has important affinities.
- The characteristics of a "mature" state jurisdiction as an ANSS building block, using the state of Utah as an example.
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